Automatic lavatory system for sewage disposal pumping unit

ABSTRACT

Automatically actuated system for disposing of lavatory waste into a toilet bowl located below grade and having a sewage pumping and disposal system, said automatic system including a control unit responsive for actuation to a predetermined fluid level in the toilet bowl.

United States Patent Arthur E. Broughton Primary Examiner- Henry K. Artis AttorneyJohn W. Adams [72] Inventor 1,820,981 Glens Falls, N.Y. 2,707,482 [21] Appl. No. 887,289 2,739,939 [.22] Filed Dec. 22, 1969 2,813,274 [45] Patented Sept. 7, 1971 2,884,648 [73] Assignee Broughton Corporation 3,334,359

Glens Falls, N.Y.

264,837 541 AUTOMATIC LAVA'IORY SYSTEM won SEWAGE 378,803

DISPOSAL PUMPING UNIT 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Flgs.

[52] U.S.Cl 4/100, 4/90 [51 Int. Cl ..E03d 13/00, E03d 1 1/08 [50] Field of Search 4/100, 101, 102, 90, 249, 69, 76, 77, 78, 89; 137/386, 392

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 568,995 10/1896 Thwaites 4/100 UX 847,183 3/1907 Johnson 4/102 ABSTRACT: Automatically actuated system for disposing of lavatory waste into a toilet bowl located below grade and having a sewage pumping and disposal system, said automatic system including a control unit responsive for actuation to a predeterminedfluid level in the toilet bowl.

AUTOMATIC LAVATORY SYSTEM FOR SEWAGE DISPOSAL PUMPING UNIT In my U.S. Pat. No. 3,l84,76l, I have disclosed a system which is suitable for installation in the home to provide a toilet facility in a basement or other location where the toilet would be below an existing soil pipe. This type of toilet is necessary in locations where soil pipes are laid relatively close to the surface of the ground. The important feature of the sewage disposal system was that it would flush the toilet and pump the waste material to the soil pipe using only the ordinary water supply to be found in the home. Naturally, however, it is desirable to have a sink basin or lavatory associated with the toilet but it was found that users were reluctant to provide this convenience as it was necessary to install an electric sump pump in addition to the toilet unit.

I have now provided a system which allows the pump associated with the toilet disposal unit to be used to pump lavatory waste water. By using the single pump the cost of providing a lavatory with a toilet is greatly reduced and yet the installation is relatively simple and convenient. Basically this invention involves draining the lavatory waste water into the toilet bowl in common with other refuse material. An automatic activating device is provided in connection with the sewage disposal unit so that as the fluid level rises the pump automatically starts to operate thereby eliminating the lavatory waste water. Thus the user of the lavatory or sink used in combination with the sewage disposal system will proceed as with any similar facility and will not need to concern himself with the disposal of the waste water from the lavatory. This invention also eliminates the need for a heavy-duty electrical supply necessary for an electric sump pump motor formerly required for below-grade waste water disposal.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an automatically actuated lavatory drain disposal system to be used in combination with a below-grade toilet sewage disposal pumping unit.

A further object of this invention is to provide the convenience of a lavatory or sink in combination with a sewage disposal unit at a level below an existing soil pipe which will be automatically actuated and thus be used in the same manner as a standard above-grade lavatory.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a lavatory drain system for a below-grade sewage disposal unit for automatic operation in connection with disposing of the waste water from a lavatory or sink.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide a sensing device to operate a toilet sewage disposal unit as the water level in the toilet bowl rises above a predetermined level.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the pipe system and component parts of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is an electrical schematic for this invention.

Reference numeral denotes the entirety of the contemplated plumbing system according to this invention which will be installed in the basement of a home. Reference numeral 12 indicates a freshwater supply pipe by which fresh water at a pressure sufficient to operate the toilet, the lavatory, and the sewage disposal pump is provided. Reference numeral M denotes the shut-off valve which is required under most local plumbing ordinances and which in any case should be provided as a convenience. Reference numeral 16 indicates the fresh water supply pipe as it extends from the shutoff valve 14.

at least a strainer to prevent particles of sand, rust, or other solid foreign material in the fresh-water supply from entering the toilet system, which would be damaged by such objects.

An electrically operated solenoid valve 30 controls the flow of water to the toilet unit. This solenoid valve 30 is operated automatically in accordance with this invention or as a result of the manual operation of pushbutton switch 32 conveniently located adjacent to the toilet.

From the solenoid valve 30 the water enters a tee 34 through which the water is directed upwardly to an air chamber 36 and through a pipe 38 to the toilet system. Associated with the air chamber 36 is a vacuum-breaker valve 40 and associated with the vacuum-breaker valve 40 is a drain 42.

Extending from the sink 24 is a drainpipe 44 to which the drain 42 is connected at a tee 46. Both the lavatory drain line 44 and the vacuum-breaker drain 42 then drain into a fixture 50 which mounts on the rear rim and underneath the seat of a toilet 52. The toilet 52 will have a bowl and interior much the same as ordinary toilets. It will therefore be seen that the fixture 50 must be suitable for connection with an ordinary plumbing pipe from the lavatory drain and in the form shown must also be adapted to be positioned at the back of the upper rim of the toilet bowl.

The fresh-water pipe 38 enters the rear of the housing 54 of the sewage disposal unit in which a pumping system 56 is enclosed. The pumping system 56 is shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,184,761. Variations in the pumping system disclosed in said patent may, of course, be used which will be actuated to produce the desired flushing operation when the solenoid valve 30 causes water to be supplied to the pumping unit 56.

From the toilet bowl 52, a pipe 60 extends to a tee connection with the pumping unit. From the tee connection a pipe 64 extends to a float switch 66. By connecting the pipe 64 from the float switch 66 to the pipe 60, it will be seen that the fluid level in the toilet bowl 52 will be sensed within the casing of the float switch 66. The float switch 66 contains elements responsive to a rising water level therein which cause the closing of an electric circuit when a predetermined water level is reached.

Several methods of constructing such a switch may be used. One such method would be to provide a float object with a magnet embedded therein which, as it rises to the top of the chamber, attracts a reed of magnetic material downward to complete an electrical circuit. Another method of making such a switch would be to provide a float object which as it neared the top of the float chamber contacted a microswitch thereby completing an electrical circuit.

The pipe 68 is connected to the pumping mechanism 56 and is the sewage outlet therefrom. The pipe 70 represents the existing soil pipe or waste line for which this installation is provided.

Referring now to FIG. 2 which is the electrical circuit of this system, numeral 72 denotes the ordinary housing supply of electricity. A stepdown transformer 74 is provided so that the system will be isolated from the main power supply and a safe low voltage is provided for operation of the solenoid valve 30. A master switch 76 is provided for the system. Contacts 78 and 80 represent the contacts of float switch 66. Pushbutton switch 32 is shown in parallel with switch 66. When either of the switches 32 or 66 are momentarily closed, electricity is transmitted to the time delay relay 82 and in turn to the solenoid coil 84 of solenoid valve 30. It will be seen that, once the contacts of either switch 32 or 66 are again opened, the timedelay relay will continue to provide operating current to the solenoid valve 30. Thus a momentary contact of pushbutton 32 or of the float switch 66 will provide a complete flush cycle of the length determined by the setting of the time-delay relay 82.

The following is an explanation of the operation of the lavatory attachment to the sewage'disposal system according to this invention. The operation of the sewage disposal unit associated with the toilet 52 is explained in U.S. Pat. No. 3,184,761.

In the present system when it is desirable to operate the toilet in the conventional fashion, the pushbutton 32 is momentarily depressed causing momentary connection of its switch contacts thereby actuating time-delay relay 82 causing current to flow through the solenoid coil 84 to open the normally closed solenoid valve 30. It will be seen that the contacts of the time-delay relay 82 continue to provide a complete electrical circuit to the solenoid coil 84 even after the pushbutton switch has been released. Thus the momentary operation of the switch 32 provides a flow of fresh water through the supply pipes 12 and 26, the water purifier 28, the tee 34 and the pipe 28 into the sewage disposal unit 56 thereby causing the contents of the toilet bowl 52 to be evacuated and replenished with clean water. The time-delay relay 82 will naturally be set to provide a flow of water for an appropriate time interval to accomplish this result.

As the clean water is flowing into the pump unit of the toilet the air chamber 36 is filling with water so that by the time the flushing cycle is completed the chamber is nearly filled. At the end of the time interval, the relay 82 opens and the solenoid coil 84 is deenergized causing the solenoid valve 30 to interrupt the flow of water. As the operation of the pumping unit results in the complete evacuation of the toilet bowl 52 and as it is desirable to have some fresh water therein, the vacuum breaker 40 opens, allowing the water in the air chamber 36 to drain into the toilet and provide a predetermined quantity of water therein.

The conventional operation of the toilet has been explained. When someone uses the lavatory by opening the faucet 22 allowing water to enter the basin 24 and flow through the drainpipe 44 and eventually into the fixture 50, the fluid level in the toilet bowl 52 begins to rise above the predetermined level established by the plumbing provided for the conventional operation of the toilet. A certain amount of excess fluid in the toilet bowl 52 may be allowed but naturally at a certain point the contents of the toilet bowl must be evacuated. As the water continues to run through the lavatory drain system the fluid in the toilet bowl eventually reaches the point at which the evacuation must occur. The level of fluid in the toilet bowl is communicated to the float switch 66 as a result of the interconnection of pipe 64. As the fluid level rises to the point at which the float switch 66 has been set for closure of switch contacts 78 and 80, the electrical circuit is completed to the time-delay relay 82 and the solenoid valve 30. When this solenoid valve 30 has been operated, the sewage disposal unit 56 will commence a flushing cycle and will remove the excess fluid accumulating in the toilet bowl 52 from the lavatory drain. Whether or not the fluid continues to enter the toilet bowl from the lavatory drain, the time-delay relay will, after a certain time, terminate the flushing cycle. If water continues to enter the toilet bowl from the lavatory drain, the unit will perform continued cycles of operation until no additional water enters the toilet bowl.

This invention represents a great convenience for those who wish to have a toilet facility located below an existing soil pipe as it allows the added convenience of providing a lavatory or sink with relatively little additional expense. The unit operates automatically so that the user of the sink or lavatory need give no consideration to the disposal of waste water. Although a small amount of electricity is required for the control system, the major source of energy for the system continues to be the existing fresh-water supply already available.

It will be seen that the automatically actuated pumping system responsive to the float-controlled valve prevents any possibility of the overflow of the toilet for any reason whatsoever.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportion of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention which generally stated consists in the matter set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination lavatory and toilet sewage disposal system com rising a avatory, a toilet bowl and a sewage drain line disposed above the level of the toilet bowl and lavatory,

a conduit associated with said lavatory to transmit fluid to said toilet bowl,

pump means for delivering accumulated fluid from said toilet bowl to said sewage drain line,

a control element for actuating said pump means,

sensing means responsive to a predetermined fluid level in said toilet bowl for actuating said control element.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and a float responsive to the water level in the toilet bowl and activating said control element.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 and a time delay means associated with said control element effective to cause a timed discharge cycle when said float momentarily activates said control element.

4. A combination lavatory and toilet sewage disposal system comprising a toilet bowl having a discharge outlet,

a discharge pumping system associated with the discharge outlet of said toilet bowl and actuated by flow from a fresh-water supply,

a lavatory having a discharge outlet,

a conduit extending from the discharge outlet of said lavatory and operatively connected to said toilet bowl to discharge fluid from said lavatory to said toilet bowl,

a valve in said fresh-water supply to said pumping system,

a sensing device operatively connected with said toilet bowl to sense the fluid level therein so that when the fluid level in said toilet bowl reaches a predetermined level said sensing device actuates said valve causing a flushing cycle of said toilet-discharge pumping system. 

1. A combination lavatory and toilet sewage disposal system comprising a lavatory, a toilet bowl and a sewage drain line disposed above the level of the toilet bowl and lavatory, a conduit associated with said lavatory to transmit fluid to said toilet bowl, pump means for delivering accumulated fluid from said toilet bowl to said sewage drain line, a control element for actuating said pump means, sensing means responsive to a predetermined fluid level in said toilet bowl for actuating said control element.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and a float responsive to the water level in the toilet bowl and activating said control element.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 2 and a time delay means associated with said control element effective to cause a timed discharge cycle when said float momentarily activates said control element.
 4. A combination lavatory and toilet sewage disposal system comprising a toilet bowl having a discharge outlet, a discharge pumping system associated with the discharge outlet of said toilet bowl and actuated by flow from a fresh-water supply, a lavatory having a discharge outlet, a conduit extending from the discharge outlet of said lavatory and operatively connected to said toilet bowl to discharge fluid from said lavatory to said toilet bowl, a valve in said fresh-water supply to said pumping system, a sensing device operatively connected with said toilet bowl to sense the fluid level therein so that when the fluid level in said toilet bowl reaches a predetermined level said sensing device actuates said valve causing a flushing cycle of said toilet-discharge pumping system. 